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International Karting Industry Buyer's Guide

Kart Expo International
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FUN TIMES

LAWN AND GARDEN EXPO A HUGE SUCCESS; NEW DATES ANNOUNCED

About 25,000 visitors and exhibitors registered for the International Lawn, Garden & Power Equipment Expo (EXPO 2004) September 24-26 in Louisville, KY. There were 452 exhibits indoors including most of the fun kart manufacturers, and the popular 20-acre outdoor demonstration area was sold out with 144 hands-on displays.

Bill Harley, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), which sponsors EXPO, said, “The mood of this year’s show was fun, relaxed and productive. Exhibitors and visitors alike seemed to be really enjoying themselves and making great contacts.”

Many exhibitors echoed comments by Husqvarna North America’s marketing manager, Sam Catalano: “Husqvarna received more dealer leads from the 2004 EXPO than in previous years. In general, the quality of leads was up substantially.”

Chad Severson, Vice President, Marketing & Customer Service, Kohler Engines, said, “We had more dealers in our inside and outside booths in 2004 by a large margin.”

Highlights of EXPO 2004 included a party for dealers, retailers, international visitors and exhibitors on Friday night. About 2,000 people networked, dined and danced to live music by Karen Kraft and her band, KIKS. On Saturday night, almost 2,500 visitors were entertained by the popular country music trio, Trick Pony, in a free concert sponsored by Ariens Company.

In the New Product Showroom, sponsored by Turf magazine, more than 50 companies spotlighted new products introduced since last year’s show. Fifteen companies hosted press conferences at the show, and many others held giveaways in their booths, staged private receptions and special events and introduced new products. Jacobsen, for instance, demonstrated their prototype, the remote-operated, self-propelled Spider, on a ramp in the demonstration area. EXPO marked the first U.S. appearance for the rotary mower that is specially designed for maintaining steep slopes and embankments.

“We are planning to market the Spider in the Americas soon,” said Dennis Schwieger, Jacobsen’s Executive Vice President for Business Development and Marketing. “We were looking for customer reactions to the product.”

Free seminar tracks were offered during EXPO for landscape professionals and golf course superintendents. Learning opportunities also included the Dealer Back Porch Sessions, Ask the Pro (for lawn & landscape pros) and Ice Breaker discussion groups where attendees could get answers about snow and ice management as a profit center for their businesses.

The winners of the second annual Yard & Garden Dealers in Excellence Awards were named on Saturday. The three winners were Wright’s Small Engine in Rochester, MN; MAE Power Equipment in Mission, TX and Southland Engine Co. Inc. in Lafayette, LA. The Ariens Companies, Stihl Inc., the Equipment and Engine Training Council and EXPO sponsored the Dealers in Excellence Awards.

Allen Cutter, Cutter’s Mower Repair, Rising Sun, IN, was the winner of the Trucks of the Industry Giveaway. He will receive $20,000 toward the purchase of a new truck from one of these five exhibitors: General Motors Isuzu Commercial Truck LLC; Dodge; GM Fleet and Commercial; Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America and Ford Commercial Truck. Power Equipment Trade and Turf magazines sponsored the giveaway.

The Walker Precision Obstacle Course at EXPO was a big success. One hundred contestants tried their hand at the course on opening day to qualify for the Saturday semi-finals. Chris Ulrich of Bristol, GA defended his crown from 2002 in the finals and bested the competition by over a second. Ulrich won an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Colorado including a tour of the Walker Factory.

For the third year, EXPO was preceded by OPEI’s Dealer University. This year’s event was held on-site at EXPO and overlapped with the first day of the show. Dealers from all over the U.S. attended the University classes, which were sponsored by Ariens, Husqvarna, Simplicity and Stihl.

For information about next year’s EXPO, set for October 14-16 in Louisville, contact Sellers Expositions, 800-558-8767 or 812-949-9200. Or visit www.expo.mow.org.

The 2005 show will offer a new exposition facility with additional space for meetings, more seminar tracks, supplier activities and special events; added parking near the entrance; closer proximity for the demo area and a new floor plan with all exhibitors in the same hall. In addition, a new 617-room Marriott Hotel will be open downtown, along with more restaurants and night spots in the lively, new 4th Street Live! entertainment complex.

Future dates for the Louisville show are:
October 14-16, 2005
October 6-8, 2006
October 5-7, 2007

END

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Kart Marketing Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 101
Wheaton, IL 60189 USA
Telephone: 630-653-7368
Fax: 630-653-2637
Email: karting@msn.com

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